JPH07121242A - Device and method for cooling electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent dew condensation irrelevantly to temperatures inside and outside the device when the device is powered ON and to remove a short circuit, rust, etc., which cause a serious fault by detecting the temperatures inside and outside the device, comparing both signals of them with each other, and controlling the driving of a cooler. CONSTITUTION:A temperature detecting processing part 18 consists of a temperature sensor 16 which detects the temperature outside the device and a temperature detecting processing part 18a which converts the detected temperature outside the device into another signal. A temperature detection part 19 consists of a temperature sensor 17 which detects the temperature inside the device and a temperature detecting processing part 19a which converts the temperature in the device that the temperature sensor 17 detects into another signal. Those signals are both sent to register parts 22 and 23 in a fan power source control part 20 and compared by a comparator 24 with each other at all times. Then when the signal of the temperature sensor 16 is larger than the signal of the temperature sensor 17, the temperature detection is carried on. When the signal of the temperature sensor 16 becomes smaller thereafter, a fan starts operating.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cooling device which is used inside an electronic device and cools electronic components in the device with a fan.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in electronic equipment such as computers, electronic parts that are weak against heat are widely used in the interior, so that the heat generated by the electronic equipment is efficiently dissipated to the outside, and the internal temperature of the parts is It is necessary to lower the temperature below the safe temperature. In the conventional electronic device, natural air cooling, which is a flow of air (natural convection) caused by a temperature difference, is sufficient for cooling the inside of the electronic device.

However, electronic devices are becoming smaller and lighter year by year.
There is a tendency toward higher density, and the heat generation density, which is the power consumption per unit volume, is increasing. Therefore, the temperature inside the electronic equipment has become higher and higher, and at present, so-called forced cooling is widely used to forcibly create a flow of air to enhance the cooling effect. A fan is generally used for the forced cooling device because of its simple structure and low cost.

Hereinafter, such a conventional cooling apparatus for electronic equipment will be described with reference to the drawings. 4 and 5 are block diagrams showing a conventional cooling device for electronic equipment. In FIG. 4, the power supply unit 2 in the electronic device 1 supplies power to the electronic circuit unit 3 and the fan 4 at the same time. In this configuration, when the power switch (not shown) is turned on, the electronic circuit 3 operates and the fan 4 is driven at the same time. When the power switch is turned off, the operation of the electronic circuit 3 is stopped and the driving of the fan 4 is stopped at the same time.

In FIG. 5, the electronic device 5 has a temperature sensor 6 and a temperature detection processing unit 7 in addition to the power supply unit 2, the electronic circuit unit 3 and the fan 4. The power supply unit 2 supplies power to the electronic circuit unit 3 and the fan 4 at the same time as in the example shown in FIG. When a power switch (not shown) is turned on, the electronic circuit 3 operates and the fan 4 is driven at the same time. When the power switch is turned off, the operation of the electronic circuit 3 is stopped and the driving of the fan 4 is stopped at the same time.

The temperature sensor 6 detects the temperature inside the device while the electronic device 5 is operating. The temperature detection processing unit 7 converts the temperature inside the device detected by the temperature sensor 6 into a signal.
If the fan 4 becomes abnormally hot due to a malfunction,
The temperature detection processing unit 7 sends an alarm signal to the electronic circuit unit 3, and the electronic circuit unit 3 stops the operation of the electronic device 5 or issues an alarm.

[0007]

In the conventional cooling device for electronic equipment, in the winter, especially in cold regions, the electronic equipment which is small and lightweight and can be carried is placed outside in a room with a low temperature, so that If you suddenly move to a room with high temperature and humidity while the temperature is decreasing, or if you leave the electronic device in the room where the temperature is low at night, and the temperature inside the device is decreasing, the room will be heated the next morning. If the power switch is turned on and the electronic circuit and the fan are operated when the temperature inside the device is lower than the temperature outside the device, such as when the room temperature suddenly rises, the following problems occur.

That is, even if the temperature outside the apparatus rises rapidly in a state where the temperature inside the apparatus is low, the electronic parts inside the apparatus and parts having a large heat capacity such as an electronic circuit board are immediately exposed to the temperature. Does not rise to the same temperature. Here, when the fan operates and the warm air outside the device enters the inside of the device, the air contacting the parts with large heat capacity is cooled and the relative humidity becomes 1
When it is more than 00%, dew condensation occurs on the surface of the component, and especially when the plugging part or the conductive part of the electronic circuit part condenses, it causes a short circuit or rust of the circuit and causes a serious failure. It was

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in a cooling device for electronic equipment of the present invention, a first temperature detecting portion for detecting the temperature outside the device and converting it to a first signal is provided. A second temperature detection unit that detects the temperature inside the device and converts it into a second signal; and a control unit that compares the first signal and the second signal to control the drive of the cooler It was

[0010]

When the power of the cooling device for electronic equipment constructed as described above is turned on, the first temperature detecting section detects the temperature outside the apparatus and converts it into the first signal, and the second temperature detecting section. Detects the temperature inside the device and converts it into a second signal, and the control unit compares the first signal and the second signal, and when the temperature outside the device becomes lower than the temperature inside the device, the cooler Power is supplied to start driving.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the occurrence of dew condensation can be prevented regardless of the temperature inside and outside the device when the power of the electronic device is turned on.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The elements common to the drawings are designated by the same reference numerals. FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a cooling device of the embodiment.

In FIG. 1, an electronic device 11 includes a housing 12
Has an electronic circuit section 3. The electronic circuit section 3 is
It is composed of an electronic circuit board 13 and an electronic component 14 mounted on the electronic circuit board 13. A fan 4 is provided on one side wall of the housing 12, and an exhaust port 15 is provided on the other side wall. The fan 4 sends the air outside the device into the device from the direction of the arrow, and cools the electronic circuit section 3 that has generated heat by circulating the air. The air in the device is discharged from the exhaust port 15 in the direction of the arrow. A temperature sensor 16 for detecting the temperature outside the apparatus is provided outside the exhaust port 15, and a temperature sensor 17 for detecting the temperature inside the apparatus is provided near the center of the electronic circuit section 3. .

In FIG. 2, in the electronic device 11, a power supply unit 2, an electronic circuit unit 3, a fan 4, a temperature detection unit 18,
19 and a fan power supply controller 20 are electrically connected to each other. The power supply unit 2 supplies power to the electronic circuit unit 3. The power supply unit 2 also supplies power to the fan 4 via the switch unit 21 in the fan power supply control unit 20.

The temperature detection processing section 18 comprises a temperature sensor 16 for detecting the temperature outside the apparatus and a temperature detection processing section 18a for converting the temperature outside the apparatus detected by the temperature sensor 16 into a signal a. The temperature detection unit 19 includes a temperature sensor 17 that detects the temperature inside the device, and a temperature detection processing unit 19b that converts the temperature inside the device detected by the temperature sensor 17 into a signal b. The signal a and the signal b are respectively supplied to the fan power supply controller 2
It is sent to the register units 22 and 23 in 0 and is constantly compared by the comparator 24.

Next, a method of cooling an electronic device according to an embodiment having the above-mentioned structure will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the cooling operation of the embodiment. First, in step 1, the power switch of the electronic device is turned on. When the power of the device is turned on, the power supply unit supplies power to the electronic circuit unit, and the electronic circuit unit starts operating. At the same time, each temperature sensor starts to detect the temperature inside and outside the device. The detected temperature is converted into a signal a and a signal b by the temperature detection processing unit, respectively. The comparator in the fan power supply control unit fetches the signal a and the signal b via the register in step 2, and compares the signals in step 3.

If the signal a is larger than the signal b, that is, if the temperature outside the device is higher than the temperature inside the device, step 2
Return to and continue temperature detection. When the electronic circuit section operates to generate heat and the signal a becomes smaller than the signal b, that is, when the temperature inside the device becomes higher than the temperature outside the device, step 4
, The switch part in the fan power supply control part is activated,
Supply power to the fan and the fan will start operating.

Once the temperature inside the apparatus becomes higher than the temperature outside the apparatus, it does not become lower than the temperature outside the apparatus while the electronic equipment is operating. Therefore, the fan supplied with power in step 4 continues to operate until the power switch of the electronic device is turned off. Also, each temperature detection unit continues to detect the temperature until the power switch of the electronic device is turned off.

[0019]

Since the present invention is constructed as described above, it has the following effects.

That is, a first temperature detecting section for detecting the temperature outside the apparatus and converting it into a first signal, and a second temperature detecting section for detecting the temperature inside the apparatus and converting it into a second signal. By providing a control unit that controls the drive of the cooler by comparing the first signal and the second signal, it is possible to prevent dew condensation regardless of the temperature inside or outside the device when the power of the electronic device is turned on. Since it can prevent the occurrence of short circuit and rust that may cause a serious failure, the product life is extended and the quality is improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a cooling device of an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a cooling operation according to an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a conventional cooling device for an electronic device.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a conventional cooling device for electronic equipment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 electronic equipment 18, 19 temperature detection unit 20 fan power supply control unit

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A cooling device for an electronic device, which cools components inside the device by driving a cooler, comprising: a first temperature detecting section for detecting a temperature outside the device and converting the temperature into a first signal; A second temperature detection unit that detects the temperature inside and converts it into a second signal, and a control unit that controls the drive of the cooler by comparing the first signal and the second signal. A cooling device for an electronic device, which is provided. 2. A cooling device for an electronic device, which cools components inside the device by driving a cooler, comprising: a first sensor for detecting a temperature outside the device; and a temperature outside the device as a first signal. A first temperature detection processing unit for converting, a second sensor for detecting the temperature in the device, a second temperature detection processing unit for converting the temperature in the device to a second signal, the first A cooling device for an electronic device, comprising: a control unit that controls a drive of the cooler by comparing a signal with the second signal. 3. A control unit for detecting the temperature by the first temperature detection unit and the second temperature detection unit to control the driving of the cooler, wherein the first temperature detection unit detects the temperature outside the device. A method for cooling an electronic device, wherein the second temperature detecting unit detects the temperature inside the device, and the controller starts driving the cooler when the temperature outside the device becomes lower than the temperature inside the device. 4. The cooling device for an electronic device and the cooling method thereof according to claim 1, wherein the cooler is a fan.